Women are supposed to cater to men in marriage, be a attribute to their husband, positioned as inferior, and dependent on their significant other. In the society set upon in the play A Doll's House, women are looked upon as a low status, caregivers, and did not have any individuality. In Hendrick Ibsen's A Doll's House women like Nora, Mrs. Linde, and the Nurse were self-sacrificial, being caregivers and doing what was right for others around them not considering themselves. The role of women in society and marriage was a main concept developed in this play, it is one of the main foundations of this play in whole. .
The setting and time period of A Doll's House is set when men played the dominant role in society and in relationships. Torvald treated Nora as his "property," he referred to her as his "little squirrel" (2) , his "little skylark" (3)and "his dearest treasure" (57). The use of possessive words like "my" shows that Nora belongs to Torvald, illustrating the roles of women during this time period. Also the nicknames he gave his wife are patronizing. Torvald treats her as his doll and "wants her all to himself" (32). Nora is portrayed in the beginning of the play as being immature which helps with her being his "doll" in the marriage. Torvald calls her a "little extravagant person (3) and an "odd little soul" (4) the repetition of the word "little" shows that her role to him is little and insignificant. .
Women are immensely dependent on men in this society. They could not do common things without getting the permission of their husbands, brothers or fathers. "A wife cannot borrow without her husband's consent" (11) , women could shame their husbands in society if they borrowed almost anything without them knowing. Torvald believes that Nora is very reliant on him for her to do simple things , this idea comes up when she asks him for help when picking out a dress for the ball:" Aha! So my obstinate little woman needs someone to come to her rescue he wants Nora to look upon him as a hero and wants her to need his help.
